Pogo sticks got their name from two surnames

Two surnames compressed into “pogo”

The name is usually traced to Pohlmann and Götz: the first two sounds of Pohlmann and Goetz combine to form “pogo.” It is a compact blend rather than a descriptive label. The word does not explain what the toy does; its connection to bouncing comes from the object itself.

A name that fits the motion

A pogo stick turns a spring’s compression and release into repeated hops. The rider pushes down, the spring stores some of that force, and its rebound lifts the stick and rider before the cycle begins again. “Pogo” is brief and easy to call out, while the toy’s distinctive bouncing gives the word a memorable association. The result is a brand-derived name whose sound is now closely tied to the motion it names.